4 ms·
This sounds like it is a good first step and I appreciate someone is trying to tackle a problem that bilks people out of billions a year. Another thing that wou
by specialp 3y ago
This sounds like it is a good first step and I appreciate someone is trying to tackle a problem that bilks people out of billions a year. Another thing that would help is hitting at the sources of revenue for these criminals. My mother was bilked of Amazon gift cards after she was told she had her identity stolen by Indian scammers and had to provide restitution. She was panicked that her identity was stolen and called me. The first thing I said was did they request gift cards? And of course that answer was yes. This was after she sent them $1500 and they wanted more.
Perhaps there should be some warning that is required before a gift card purchase that warns the purchaser of scams. I know some stores are doing this now when they see someone buying a bunch of gift cards, and sometimes preventing victimization. But perhaps legislation is needed here due to the scale of loss. I am not in favor of a nanny state, but sometimes people need to be told things.
- tallytarik 3y agoKitboga has shown in his videos where a victim will be at the store, and will either see a sign that warns about gift card scams, or is specifically told by the cashier, and still buys them. Why? Because often the scammer already has remote access to their computer and has threatened to lock it permanently, or take over their bank account, or whatever else. Maybe they’ve already used the infamous Inspect Element to ‘zero’ their bank account. Scam or not, the victim believes that they’ve already lost. You would need a cashier to have, essentially, Kitboga-level knowledge of current scams so they could accurately explain why the victim shouldn’t buy the cards, explain that their bank account is actually safe, and also ideally provide instructions on how to the scammer off their computer. That probably goes beyond the scope of most cashiers.
- gnicholas 3y agoMy guess is that stores that sell gift cards would not favor the passage of regulations that could endanger the profit they are currently making on gift cards. For them, this is basically free money, and may contribute meaningfully to their profitability. Grocery stores have very low margins, and have to deal with spoilage and expend labor restocking perishable goods every day. Gift cards are a breeze, by comparison. They don't go bad, or take up much space.
- admax88qqq 3y agoIs making gift cards more difficult to buy really going to put a dent in people getting scammed?
- nerdponx 3y agoI wonder what % of gift card sales are actually scam victims.
- gnicholas 3y agoProbably a bigger percent of total GC sales by volume than by number of transactions. I assume legit purchases are $25-50, and scam-induced purchases are larger, perhaps much larger.
- SXX 3y agoThere also credit card churning. Though people who do that are certainly know what are they doing and not gonna be diswayed from buying gift cards by anti-scam warnings.
- Loughla 3y agoI think every store in the nearest town makes you talk to the manager if you want to buy more than $100 in gift cards at one time. I never considered that this is what that was for.
- cdchn 3y agoEvery time I go to the bank to take out cash they ask me who the money is for and if I know them.
- _7c0c 3y agoAs a Indian, I feel sorry for her. A scammer also stole my ₹600 ($7.21, Its still a lot here) by fooling me that his mother needs the money for medicine and that he will return it.